Abstract: A modular kiosk for use in the food service industry is described. The kiosk includes one or more structural units having upstanding sides and back, and a horizontal roof with couplings on the back thereof for coupling appliances disposed in the unit to sources of energy. The unit typically would have metal, upper and lower sections, each receiving a different appliance for cooking or storing food. The unit can include a hood disposed at eye level and a griddle or deep fat fryer disposed below the hood in the middle section. When a hood is included, the hood is intended to be coupled to a flue. The device is intended to be used in malls and open areas for cooking and dispensing food.

Abstract: The energy required to provide hot water may be reduced in a water heating system including a heat generating range (12) for cooking food and a hood (14) overlying the range (12) for capturing fumes rising from the range (12) or the food thereon. An exhaust duct (16) provided with an exhaust fan (18) is connected to the hood (14) and a baffle and heat exchanger assembly (22) is interposed between the hood (14) and the exhaust duct (16). The assembly (22) includes a grease collecting baffle (54) facing the hood (14) and a heat exchanger (52) backing the baffle (54). The heat exchanger (52) includes a liquid flow path (56), (60), (74) through which water to be heated by the fumes may circulate.

Abstract: A grease guiding tray for a kitchen ventilator includes a tray unit and an annular fence member. The tray unit includes an annular plate with inner and outer peripheral edges, an inner ring which projects upwardly from the inner peripheral edge and which has a top end formed with an annular flange that extends radially inward and then upward, an outer ring which projects upwardly from the outer peripheral edge and which cooperates with the inner ring so as to confine an annular recess therebetween, and an annular partition which projects upwardly from the annular plate and which extends into the annular recess between the inner and outer rings. The partition is formed with at least one notch, while the outer ring is formed with a radial opening. The fence member includes an annular surrounding wall that diverges gradually from a bottom end thereof, and an annular base plate that is connected to and that inclines upwardly from the bottom end of the surrounding wall.

Abstract: The energy required to provide hot water may be reduced in a water heating system including a heat generating range (12) for cooking food and a hood (14) overlying the range (12) for capturing fumes rising from the range (12) or the food thereon. An exhaust duct (16) provided with an exhaust fan (18) is connected to the hood (14) and a baffle and heat exchanger assembly (22) is interposed between the hood (14) and the exhaust duct (16). The assembly (22) includes a grease collecting baffle (54) facing the hood (14) and a heat exchanger (52) backing the baffle (54). The heat exchanger (52) includes a liquid flow path (56), (60), (74) through which water to be heated by the fumes may circulate.

Abstract: An exhaust hood is disclosed which comprises an open underside and a grease filter defining an exhaust plenum between the hood and the grease filter and a flow path through the grease filter. A shutter-like panel is slidable into the flow path adjacent to the grease filter for blocking a portion of the flow path to adjust a volume of air flowing through the exhaust hood. Multiple side-by-side panels may be provided and each panel preferably tapers in height across its width.

Abstract: A fume exhausting device comprises a housing in which an air flow guiding box and a transverse impeller are disposed. The air flow guiding box is formed by a front plate, a top plate, a rear plate, a left plate and a right plate. The top plate is provided with an opening. The transverse impeller is located horizontally in the air flow guiding box such that the impeller is pivoted respectively at the left end thereof and the right end thereof to the left plate and the right plate of the air flow guiding box, and that the impeller is driven by the motor. A bottom plate is fastened to the housing such that the opening of the front plate of the air flow guiding box is sealed off by the bottom plate which is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes.

Abstract: A moisture-collecting hood assembly (10) for a vapor-generating machine (12) includes a hood (14) having an open bottom (15)and upwardly tapering sides (16) and ends (18). On the inside of the hood is a gutter (24) for collecting moisture in the vapor condensing on the hood interior. Vapors from the machine that enter the hood are exhausted through a horizontally-oriented, moisture-collecting sleeve that has a central portion (46) whose cross-sectional area is larger than that of an inlet (43) in communication with the hood, and an outlet (48) in communication with a negatively pressurized exhaust line (49). The central portion of the sleeve serves to collect moisture in its lower portion that condenses from the vapor exhausted from the hood.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for controlling a ventilation motor of a microwave oven which is provided to control the ventilation motor automatically according to a setting time by a user.

Abstract: A grease collector housing is mounted directly atop a filter-containing kitchen exhaust hood at the exhaust collar. The housing includes a liquid reservoir at the bottom, a 360 degree shallow conical spray head immediately above the reservoir, an array of baffle-type grease filters above the spray, a filter-cleaning spray head above the array and a connector above it to the exhaust duct. A detergent water supply and removal system includes a pump and associated valving for moving a water-based solution through the spray heads and sprays as and when needed to remove grease from kitchen exhaust fumes and to wash down any residual grease from the filters and reservoir in the housing. A disposable cartridge-type water filter is included in the recirculating liquid system. Controls automatically provide the proper valve operating sequence for the operations as and when needed.

Abstract: A smoke exhauster includes a housing having an opening for receiving an annular tray and a grill. The grill includes a passage having one end located below a drain hole of the annular tray for receiving the fluid and having the other end extended toward the center portion. A container is secured to the center portion of the grill for collecting fluid from the passage, the container including a tube disposed in the center portion for supplying water into the housing for cleaning the housing. The grill and the tray both may be easily secured to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering grease laden fumes in the space above a cooking appliance, including a hood, a supply air plenum and an exhaust air plenum on each side of the hood, a source of air under pressure being connected to a supply air transition duct connected by an air supply transition duct coupled to an opening in the air supply plenum, the supply air plenum being provided with perforated balancing plates which perform the function of modulating the incoming air to flow in a particular manner, and further being provided with perforated deflector pairs of overlapped plates positioned below the balancing plates, to additionally modulate the air flow paths, so that straight paths of air flow move into the interior of the hood above the cooking appliances and then pass through filters which remove grease particles as the exhaust air moves through the filters into the exhaust air plenum.

Abstract: A combined self-cleaning grease and particulate filter and heat exchanger used to collect thermal energy normally vented through flue hoods or other ventilation systems in commercial or institutional kitchens. Fluid circulated within the filter/heat exchanger may then be utilized for heating other mediums, such as water or air. The filter/heat exchanger is provided with means for quick assembly and designed to replace existing grease filters, thus allowing economical retrofitting.

Abstract: Organic vapors emitted from a fryer containing a fatty substance heated to its vaporization temperature are condensed from a stream of exhaust air by a venturi-type scrubber. The scrubber condenses organic vapors into a liquid bath from which floatable by-products are removed and subjected to a further separation or clarification process. Air containing organic vapors is initially collected by a hood structure which defines a substantially confined emissions region above the fatty substance. In a preferred embodiment, the hood structure is configured to restrict the flow of ambient air into the emissions region, preferably causing air to enter the emissions region at a velocity of at least approximately 100 feet per minute.

Abstract: A smoke exhauster is provided under a bottom plate thereof with two first locating members, two second locating members, and a lower plate. The lower plate is located by two first locating members and two second locating members such that the front side, the left side and the right side of the lower plate form a smoke-drawing space along with the bottom side of the bottom plate. The size of the smoke-drawing space is such that the fume can be effectively exhausted by the smoke exhauster.

Abstract: Removable filters tailored to pollution by different cookers under a hood, have locating punched out notches on locator pins located on a removable drain trough according to a pattern whereby, after the filters are removed for cleaning, they must be re-installed in their original locations. A field-installed outlet collar assembly includes a flanged one-piece inner collar received up through a field-cut opening in the hood top. Two tapered half frames are hammered in laterally, wedging between the top of the hood and the top flange of the collar, sealing the bottom flange of the collar to a gasket sealed to the underside of the hood top. An access door assembly is similarly field-installed. Exhaust duct sections have joint features snapped together and interlocking.Fire damper assemblies inside the exhaust and make-up air plenums include horizontally slidable panels positionable in a maximized standardized hood to reduce its flow rates to match specific cooking fume ventilating requirements.

Abstract: An improved fume exhauster includes a housing forming therein a receiving space in which a suction and filtration unit is disposed. Fastened to the lower portion of the receiving space of the housing is a bottom plate having a fume sucking hole and a plurality of air exit holes arranged at a predetermined interval along left, right and front edges thereof. The fume is sucked in through the fume sucking hole of the bottom plate and is subsequently filtered by a filtration member. The filtered fume (clean air) is caused to pass through the air exit holes to form an air curtain under the fume exhauster. The air curtain acts to prevent the dissipation of the fume so as to reinforce the sucking and exhausting effect of the fume exhauster.

Abstract: A vapor-collecting hood for a commercial kitchen has downwardly open collecting vapor spaces formed by the grease separating cells which have intake openings adapted to be selectively blocked by shutters. All of the shutters are mounted upon a common shutter carrier and are displaceable therewith from positions in which the openings are unblocked into positions in which the openings are blocked.

Abstract: A external body of a kitchen fume extractor comprising a top sheet member having left and right edges extending downwardly to form a short plate portion extending inwardly to form a first fixing portion, two side sheet members individually having a second fixing portion extending inwardly from the upper edge of the side sheet member and secured to the first fixing portion, and a rear sheet member attached to the top sheet member and the side sheet members.

Abstract: A wind guiding disk of a kitchen smoke exhauster comprises a first element and a second element. The first and the second elements are made of heat-resisting material by injection molding. The first element has a first bottom flat collar provided with a first inner upright collar and a first outer upright collar which is provided with an opening and a wind guiding tube portion for being fastened to a bottom plate of the kitchen smoke exhauster. The second element has a second bottom flat collar provided with a second inner upright collar and a second outer upright collar. The second element is fitted into the second element such that the bottom of the second bottom flat collar is located on the top of the stopping collar of the first element, and that a passage is formed between the first inner upright collar and the second inner upright collar.

Abstract: An outer housing of a kitchen smoke exhauster comprises a left-right side plate, a top plate and a plurality of U-shaped members. The left-right side plate has a main plate portion provided with a horizontal plate portion extending inwardly from the top edge thereof and having a first vertical strip portion extending downwards from the fringe thereof. The top plate has a base plate portion provided respectively at the left side thereof and the right side thereof with a second vertical strip portion extending downwards. Each of the U-shaped members has a middle plate portion provided respectively at the left side thereof and the right side thereof with a first wall plate portion and a second wall plate portion, which extend upwards such that they are curved and that they are corresponding to each other. The U-shaped members are so disposed that the first and the second vertical strip portions are received in the slots of the U-shaped members with an appropriate tightness.

Abstract: An oily smoke treating and exhausting device for cooking equipment, has an upper smoke housing, two vertical passageways formed by three vertical plates extending down and up from the housing for oily smoke produced in cooking to be showered with water to let oil in the smoke be mixed with water and drop down into a separating tank so that oil may float on top of water in the tank and overflow into a waste oil tank to be exhausted.

Abstract: This invention is directed to smoke exhauster having two side members and a top plate. The side member includes a main portion having a plurality of horizontal rods disposed on an internal wall and a top portion. Both left and right edges of the top plate are bent downwardly to form a vertical plate portion having a plurality of through holes corresponding in location and number to the horizontal rods. A plurality of bolts pass through the through holes and are threaded to the horizontal rods.

Abstract: A ventilation apparatus includes an inlet air device (14), an exhaust air device (15) and a mantle (13), which constitutes a hood where the removable air is collected and wherefrom the removable air is discharged by the exhaust air device (15). The inlet air device includes an air distribution chamber, provided with an air distribution surface in connection with the mantle. A fresh incoming air is brought to the air distribution chamber and distributed through the air distribution surface to the air-conditioned space. The inlet air device (14) is formed of a number of inlet air units (10), which are installed at regular intervals from each other, and each inlet air unit is provided with an inlet surface (5) arranged in connection with the mantle, and an air distribution surface (3) which is projected from the inlet surface (5) and is partly permeable to air.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ventilator assembly and method for removing kitchen exhaust fumes entrained in a moving air stream from an area surrounding a cooking unit. A roof-top blower moves the air stream from the cooking area through an air duct to the atmosphere. An overhanging hood defines a ventilation opening located above the cooking unit. One or more air vents are formed in a top wall of the hood and communicate with the air duct. A detachable high velocity module is positioned in the hood in filtering relation to the air vents. The high velocity module includes opposing side plates, a filter housing connected to the side plates, and an inclined exhaust baffle located between the filter housing and the cooking unit. The exhaust baffle defines at least one laterally extending slot formed therein for accelerating the flow of the moving air stream into the high velocity module. One or more grease filters are mounted in the filter housing for removing fumes from the moving air stream.

Abstract: A smoke exhauster structure comprises an enclosure having a releasably secured lower hood plate and a releasably secured fan housing disposed therein. The hood plate has a pair of spring loaded pivoting catches provided on respective rear corner portions thereof and a pair of protruding tabs on the front edge thereof which overlap and abut a retaining rim provided under the front panel of the enclosure. Each pivoting catch engages a respective locking bar in a rear portion of the enclosure to releasably secure the hood thereunder. The fan housing which surrounds the exhaust fans of the exhauster is releasably secured to the underside of a top plate of the enclosure by a set of latches provided around the periphery thereof. Each latch has a pivoting buckle whose ends are connected to a spring loaded lever, each buckle engages a corresponding hook shaped securing appendage provided on the underside of the top plate.

Abstract: An external body of a soot extractor for effectively devoid of the previously mentioned sharp edges which are capable of inflicting injury on persons. The body includes a top sheet member having left and right edges bending downwardly to form a first fixing means respectively, and two side sheet members respectively attached to the left and right sides of the top sheet member and individually having a main plate portion and a arcuate plate portion, and a second fixing means extending downwardly from the edge of said arcuate plate portion for secured on the first fixing means.

Abstract: The apparatus is adapted to provide for the controlling of incoming replacement or make up air in a cooking equipment ventilation system. The apparatus is dependent upon an air plenum surrounding the hood or an enclosure which contains the incoming, unconditioned make up air. The air is discharged into the cooking primarily by adjustable air controllers. The controllers are located at the lower lateral edge of the hood. The direction of the incoming replacement or make up air can be directed as desired for the required thermal conditions. The apparatus can be an integral part of a new ventilation hood assembly or system, or can be retrofit to a ventilation hood assembly or system already in operation.

Abstract: An adjustable deflector device is provided for selective positioning above the ventilator of a cooking range of the type where the ventilator is disposed adjacent to and flush with the cooking range heating elements. The deflector device comprises support means having first and second ends, the first end includes a first support portion and the second end includes a second support portion. The first and second portions are disposed at an angle with respect to each other. The first end is movably attached to the cooking range so that the first support portion is positioned at an angle with respect to the range. The first support portion is rotatable and extendable about its longitudinal axis. The second support portion includes a deflector portion having a width at least equal to the exhaust means and a length substantially equal to the exhaust means.

Abstract: A sliding valve unit is adapted to be mounted on the exit panel of a range hood in front of an exit duct. The valve unit is made of a pair of flat plates facing each other. The pair of plates have a perforation therethrough and a sliding slice therebetween for obstructing the perforation. A handle connected to the slice extends between the plates and outwardly for manually moving the slice. The valve unit is provided with means for being fixed flatwise against said duct.

Abstract: A fume extractor comprises a housing and a predetermined number of suction devices. The housing has a bottom board provided with fume sucking ports. Each of the suction devices comprises a motor provided with a rotating shaft upon which a wind impeller is mounted in such a manner that the wind impeller is corresponding in location to the fume sucking ports of the housing. Each of the suction devices is further provided with a filtration member having a top segment and a bottom segment which are fastened respectively to a top board and a bottom board of the housing. The filtration member has an inner wall that is located at a distance from the wind impeller. The housing is further provided with a plurality of exhausting holes.

Abstract: An external body of a soot extractor for effectively devoid of the previously mentioned sharp edges which are capable of inflicting injury on persons. The body includes a top sheet member having left and right edges bending downwardly to form a first fixing means respectively, and two side sheet members respectively attached to the left and right sides of the top sheet member and individually having a main plate portion and a arcuate plate portion, and a second fixing means extending downwardly from the edge of said arcuate plate portion for secured on the first fixing means.

Abstract: An air canopy system for use with equipment producing fumes whose escape into the environment adjacent the equipment is not desired. The system comprises rear and side walls adapted to upstand from adjacent rear and sides of the equipment; an upper canopy surmounting the rear and side walls and cooperating therewith to define a volume for receiving fumes produced by the equipment; an arranged to extend substantially between the side walls in a forwardly spaced relationship from the front of the equipment for cooperation therewith to bound a makeup air receiving inlet for permitting passage of air from the environment into the volume and for cooperation with the side walls and the upper canopy to bound an access opening for the volume, wherein the air curtain is directed towards the upper canopy for preventing escape of fumes from the volume through the access opening; and an exhaust inlet extending along an upper extent of the rear wall for withdrawing fumes and air from the volume.

Abstract: A kitchen range hood fan electrically connectable to an atmospheric humidity sensor, such as a dehumidistat. The fan motor is automatically activated when atmospheric humidity readings measured within a dwelling exceed a pre-set limit.

Abstract: A kitchen smoke exhauster comprises a housing, an air flow chamber, two motors, a bottom member, a partition, and a bottom board. The bottom member is provided with the grease exit pipe, the grease guide portion and the bevel groove to facilitate the collection of grease contained in the cooking fume. The bottom member is further furnished with left and right baffling portions preventing the contamination of food by the grease. The air flow chamber is provided with the arcuate right and left flow guides serving to enhance the smoke-removing efficiency of the kitchen smoke exhauster. Both air flow chamber and bottom member can be easily removed from the exhauster for cleaning.

Abstract: A grease tray for range hoods comprises a main member and an auxiliary member. The main member has a disk ring provided mainly with a first upright ring portion and a shoulder portion having thereon a second upright ring portion with a tenon located on the inner circumference thereof. The disk ring is further provided with a grease outlet. The auxiliary member has a planar ring provided with an inner wall, an outer wall, and a high wall portion located between the inner wall and the outer wall so as to form an outer slot and a middle slot. The outer slot has a grease draining hole while the middle slot has at least one through hole. The outer wall of the auxiliary member is provided with a mortise corresponding in location to the tenon of the main member. The main member and the auxiliary member are put together by means of the tenon and the mortise, in a manner that the bottom of the outer wall is located on the shoulder portion.

Abstract: The invention concerns a ventilation device, through which impure air is removed out of a room, in particular out of the proximity of a source of impurities at a working point in the room space. According to the invention, through the device, besides the removal of impure air and/or excess heat from the source of impurities as a limited-area removal, air of general removal is also removed through the device, the suction opening for general removal being preferably opened into the same exhaust chamber into which the suction opening for the space for collecting of impurities in the interior of, for example, a kitchen hood is opened. The device may also include a flow opening for the general intake. Thus, the device can operate as a device for limited-area ventilation and for general ventilation serving for the whole room.

Abstract: A thermally efficient gas range includes a top surface adapted to be sealed to a gas burner assembly, and a downdraft plenum adjacent the gas burner assembly adapted to draw cooking vapors, heat and the products of combustion and cooking from adjacent the surface of the range and the gas burner assembly, and a sealed, powered gas burner assembly comprising an open flame surface burner and a combined air and gas supply means adapted for connection with an air flow source and a gas flow source to provide a combustible gas/air mixture to a sealed conduit connected between the gas burner and the combined air and gas flow supply means.

Abstract: The invention of this application comprises a novel filter assembly including a charcoal filter and a fiberglass filter positioned within a housing. The fiberglass filter comprises a fiberglass mat mounted to a wire structure formed in an accordion-shape so as to increase the surface area of the fiberglass mat. The invention also comprises a novel sensor system for sensing when the grease filter and the filter assembly have been installed, for sensing when the filter assembly is about to require changing and for shutting down the exhaust hood when the assembly requires changing.

Abstract: A blower system for a duct, locatable anywhere along the duct. The blower system is composed generally of a blower and a housing connected to the blower. The housing encloses the blower and has connected thereto an inlet port and an outlet port for being connected with a duct at any location along the duct. More particularly, the housing includes an internal baffle having a cut-out which interfaces with the outlet of the blower. Further, the housing is provided with an adapter that is tapered between the baffle and the outlet port for facilitating movement of air from the blower to the duct. A power cord emanates sealably from the housing for connecting the blower to a source of electrical power.

Abstract: A kitchen ventilator is mounted in the wall behind the cooking units and has a horizontally extending intake slot located close to the cooking surface. A roof-mounted upblast fan is coupled through connecting duct to the ventilator to establish a vacuum in the system. Room air travels over the cooking surface into the slot and is baffled down toward the bottom of the ventilator and then turned 180 degrees around the bottom edge of the baffle to centrifugally remove some contaminants. The air moves upward to the top of the baffle and is drawn through baffle-style filters where additional contaminants are removed. The baffle is removable to facilitate cleaning. Clean-out doors in the front face of the ventilator above the intake slot give easy access to the filters for removal and cleaning or replacement of them. A funnel around and under the fan assembly takes rain and snow from the fan assembly and drains it through the connecting duct and ventilator to sewer.

Abstract: A modular countertop cooking assembly is provided comprising at least one cooking module and a control module. The cooking module includes a burner box housing, and preferably includes a downdraft ventilation system, and is adapted to operatively receive at least one heating unit within the burner box. The control module is preferably arranged juxtaposed to the cooking module and can provide selective control of the heating units and the ventilation system included in the cooking assembly. The cooking module burner box includes an integral peripheral trim about its top edge and the control module includes an integral peripheral trim about its edge, both of which interface when assembled to provide a flush appearance across their interface and the appearance of a unitary cooking appliance disposed within a countertop.

Abstract: A smoke exhauster including a top plate, a right plate and a left plate. Both left and right edges of the top plate are bent downwardly and then inwardly for 180 degrees so as to form basic strip portions containing a receiving space. The top edges of left and right plates are provided with a lower horizontal plate extending inwardly and horizontally therefrom. Each of lower horizontal plates comprises a curved portion extending upwardly from the outer edge thereof. The upper edge of the curved portion extends outwardly and horizontally to form an upper horizontal plate. The top, left, and right plates are united to form a housing body in such manners that upper horizontal plates of left and right plates are inserted into the receiving spaces of top plate and a molding tool is used to pack the upper and the lower horizontal plates and the basic strip portions. The housing body so made is devoid of sharp edges so as to prevent the user from being injured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for exhausting a mixture of air laden with droplets and vapors of greases and oils from a room such as a kitchen. A motor-driven fan is mounted within a duct to exhaust the mixture to outside the room. A heater located near the intake of the duct vaporizes any droplets of grease and oil in the air, and then superheats the resulting mixture to a temperature below the ignition point. The exhaust fan motor also drives a separate fan for cooling the motor with air drawn from the outside. The superheat temperature is regulated by the exhaust fan speed and current input to the heater.

Abstract: An air filter is provided for a food cooking apparatus to avoid the necessity for venting same within a building and permitting the use of a free standing independently movable structure capable of receiving a movable cooking apparatus or accommodating a fixed cooking apparatus such as a grill.An air filter assembly for filtering exhaust air from cooking devices is illustrated as having filter elements in vertically aligned stacked relation accessibly positioned in an imperforate housing.

Abstract: An exhaust ventilation control system for use with a ventilation system located at a cooking station and having one or more exhaust fans for exhausting air containing cooking by-products from the cooking station to an external environment, can alter operation of the exhaust fans to match the exhaust requirements to the cooking load. The exhaust ventilation control system includes an exhaust control connected to the exhaust fans for controlling operation of the exhaust fans in response to operation of the cooking areas. The exhaust control requires monitoring of a cooking area for determining which of the one or more cooking areas is in operation, a power control circuit responsive to the cooking are a monitor for controlling power supplied to the exhaust fan motors, and a timed switch operable in response to the power control circuit to switch to a variety of positions, depending on the number of cooking areas in operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooking foods such as donuts and pastries in hot oil with new steps and structure being provided to minimize airborne cooking oil and aeromatic odors. The method includes steps of directing an air sheet across the top of the cooking machines, collecting the air sheet and filtering oil several times to remove oil and odors, the collected air flow is split and a minority is recirculated as the air sheet and a majority is exhausted downward upon the floor. The apparatus is self-contained and has the cooking machine atop of a cabinet with the ventilation and filter system being inside the cabinet. There are first, second, third and fourth filters that remove the oil first and the odors lastly. A single air blower collects the air and oil and odors, causes flow through the filters, recirculates a minority portion of the air back to the machine, and exhausts a majority of the air to ambient.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooking or refrigerating food which is capable of treating several products having different cooking or refrigerating times, wherein baskets containing these products can be separately introduced or removed. The apparatus includes a lower part in which the products are to be treated, and a hood covering the lower part. To allow introduction or removal of baskets, the hood may be raised and lowered by a mechanism. Robot arm secured below the hood slide on transverse endless screws and grasp baskets whose treatment is complete, while permitting other baskets to remain for treatment.

Abstract: An improved gas fueled cooking appliance incorporating surface heating units comprising burners with automatic reignition capability adapted for use in combination with surface level downdraft venting is provided with an air deflector disposed proximate the igniter to alter the flow of air in the vicinity of the igniter so as to prevent the downdraft vent induced air flow from moving the flame from the igniter. In a preferred form the air deflector is a thin wall extending upwardly from the cooktop surface. The wall extends away from the burner with the end of the wall nearest the burner being laterally spaced from and even with or downstream from the igniter electrode located on the periphery of the burner.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for the control of a ventilator, especially for a stream or vapor vent hood which is located above a cooking range, in dependence upon steam or vapor clouds which are drawn towards the ventilator. An ultrasonic transmission path having an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver is located in front of the ventilator, with a receiving circuit demodulating the signal which appears at the ultrasonic receiver; wherein an evaluating or sample-and-hold circuit evaluates any fluctuations in the input signal encountered over a period of time and which are based on the presence of steam or vapor clouds in the ultrasonic transmitting path, and counts these signals within a time frame, and wherein a comparator circuit compares the result of the count with preset values and, in accordance therewith, activates the ventilator.

Abstract: A hood adapted to remove contaminants from incoming airflow comprising a housing member having top, front, back and side walls, and defining a lower liquid sump, and an upper exhaust opening in the top wall, an inlet opening defined in the front wall of the housing member the front wall is inclined inwardly and downwardly, a partition extends between the side walls downwardly from the front wall and has a free end defining an air passage with the back wall leading to a large volume upper portion of the housing, a screen having openings therein extends between the side walls and downwardly from the free end of the partition into the sump, the partition has a dam on the free end thereof having a horizontal upper edge, liquid will overflow the dam on the partition and move across the openings in the screen to the sump, whereby air passing into the inlet opening passes through the liquid moving across the screen and then through the liquid moving across the screen and then through an agglomeration of liquid in th